1. Language Hull & Vaid, 2006
Pre-IB

2. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Recent research shows that the right brain plays more of a supportive role in language than originally thought
The environment even has some influence on localization of development

3. Bilingualism
Some studies have concluded – bilingual children who learn two languages simultaneously have smaller vocabularies in each of their languages than monolingual children have in their own language
But when their two overlapping vocabularies are added, their total vocab. Is similar to that of children learning a single language

4. Bilingualism
Bilingual and monolingual children are largely similar in the course and rate of their language development
Cognitive skills
Middle class bilingual subjects who are fluent in both languages tend to score somewhat higher than monolingual subjects on measures of cognitive flexibility, analytical reasoning, selective attention
Speed - disadvantage

5. Bilingualism
Age is a significant factor for the ability to learn a second language
Earlier is better
Acculturation is a second factor that assist with the acquisition of a second language
The degree to which a person is socially and psychologically integrated into a new culture
Greater acculturation facilitates more rapid acquisition of the new culture’s language
Bidirectional approach – Language is not only cognitive processing, but sociocultural and biological factors also play a vital role

6. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Broca’s Area ?
Wernicke’s Area?
What do these areas do and where are they located?

7. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Complex abstract humancognitive processing is possible only with the coordination of many smaller brain regions
Damage to a specific part of the brain may lead to deficits in comprehending language (Wernicke’s Area)
Does not mean that language comprehension is located in that area only
The specific damage is just disruption on one part of the total process
Damage to the Wernicke’s area is not sufficient to explain language comprehension problems.

8. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Reductionist view of localization?

9. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Popular culture has contributed to the common reductionist view of localization
The modern research on localizationdoes not support a strict division
Right-Brained

10. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Acquiring a second language early in life affects brain localization
Neuroplasticity explains the differences.
Acquiring two languages on or before age 6 stimulates more and different neural pathways than in children who speak just one language and in people who acquire a second language after age 6

11. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Previous studies showed that the right hemisphere was no important in language processing
Hull and Vaid believed the right brain is important
Studies suggested that while the left hemisphere was dominant for language processing, the right hemisphere supported the process more than was typically believed

12. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Meta-analysis?

13. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Meta-analysis – looks for themes in a large body of studies on the same topic that use different designs
Makes sense of a wide range of studies on a topic
It organizes hundreds of studies in such a way to make them comparable
Researchers conducting meta-analysis create new data by sorting studies into categories
Compare the effect size across a wide range of studies to create the best generalizations

14. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Hull & Vaid
Examined 23 studies on a total of 1234 normal monolingual and bilingual participants
All studies tested monolinguals and bilinguals speaking the same languages
Aim – to see if and under what conditions second language experience affected brain development

15. Explain One Study Related to Localization of Function in the Brain
Important findings of the meta-analysis
Early experience appears the key variable
Monolinguals and bilinguals who acquired their second language after age 6 showed the most left hemisphere dominance
Early bilinguals were bilateral – the closer in time two languages are acquired, the more similar the brain localization
There were no significant hemispheric localization differences between the proficient and non-proficient bilinguals